How to start a Disney Plus GroupWatch and invite your friends and family to watch together
You can start a Disney Plus GroupWatch to watch shows or movies with friends and family.
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- You can start a Disney Plus GroupWatch on desktop or mobile.
- Choose the movie or TV show you want to watch, then select the GroupWatch icon.
- Invite friends and family by sharing a link, then select "Start Stream" to start watching.
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Launched in 2020, GroupWatch is a feature on Disney Plus that allows you to watch any movie, short, or TV show on the streaming platform with friends and family.
GroupWatch syncs streams so that you can all have the same viewing experience, even if you're unable to watch together in person. Anyone you invite will need to have a Disney Plus account to join, although up to four different profiles on the same account can stream together.
You can launch and join a GroupWatch using the Disney Plus website or mobile app. And while you're watching, you can offer real-time reactions by clicking or tapping the smiley face icon.
The virtual watching tool is offered online through your browser and on the Disney Plus app, which is currently available for mobile devices and tablets.
Here's how to host your own Disney Plus GroupWatch and join an existing GroupWatch.
How to start a Disney Plus watch party
You must be the host to invite people to a GroupWatch. Here's how it's done:
On desktop
1. Log into your Disney+ account.
2. Select the movie or TV show that you want to watch.
3. Click the GroupWatch icon on the title Details page - it looks like three people in a circle.
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4. Click the plus "+" button to invite family and friends.
5. Click Copy Link and share the link.
6. You can paste the link in a text, share it in an email; wherever is most convenient.
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7. When you're ready to start watching, click Start Stream.
8. To pick a new episode or add more people, exit out of the GroupWatch by clicking the back arrow.
9. Click Leave GroupWatch on the title Details page to exit out of the group altogether.
10. The stream will keep going until everyone taps or clicks this button.
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On mobile
1. Open the Disney+ app.
2. Select the movie or TV show that you want to watch.
3. Tap the GroupWatch icon on the title Details page - it looks like three people in a circle.
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4. Tap the plus "+" button to invite family and friends, then tap Invite.
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5. Tap to select your preferred method of sharing the GroupWatch link.
6. Options include copying the link, sending it via text, AirDrop, and more.
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7. When you're ready to start watching, tap Start Stream.
8. To pick a new episode or add more people, exit out of the GroupWatch by tapping the back arrow.
9. Tap Leave GroupWatch on the title Details page to exit out of the group altogether. The stream will keep going until everyone taps or clicks this button.
How to join a Disney Plus GroupWatch
You can join Disney Plus GroupWatch on your computer, mobile device, or smart TV.
On desktop or mobile
1. Log into your Disney+ account or open the Disney+ app.
2. Select your profile.
3. Select the movie or TV show that you're watching with family and friends.
4. Select the GroupWatch icon on the title Details page, then Join Stream.
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On a smart TV
You must accept a GroupWatch invite before switching over to a smart TV.
1. Open Disney+ on your smart TV.
2. Select the same profile you used to accept the GroupWatch invitation.
3. Select Join Stream.
Why you might not be able to join a GroupWatch
Some users have reported issues with connecting to GroupWatch, but these issues are easy to fix.
Firstly, to join a GroupWatch you have to be an active Disney+ subscriber, there's no way around it. Secondly, only seven people can be in a GroupWatch stream at once. If there are already seven people logged in, you won't be able to join.
If you share an account with other people, note that up to four different profiles can stream from the same Disney Plus account. If you've hit your cap, you won't be able to join the GroupWatch. You also won't be able to join a GroupWatch that's already ended.
There are also some content restrictions. Although all titles are available to GroupWatch, remember that not all Disney Plus titles are available in every country. You can't stream a title that's not available in your country, and kids' profiles do not have access to the GroupWatch feature.
Additionally, some titles are considered Premier Access — this means that they're new movies that you have to pay to stream on the app. Anyone who's paid for the movie will be able to join a Premier Access stream, but those who haven't paid will be blocked.